Self-elastic setting pins for pin carriages of calculating machines

ABSTRACT

Setting pins for pin carriages of calculating machines, each of which defines a completely enclosed slot and two resilient or springy, bar members arranged on opposite sides of the slot. A detent tongue is formed on each of the bar members to partially form two distinct recesses. A rod attached to the pin carriage is brought into a cooperative relationship with one of the recesses, and can be brought to the other of the recesses by pushing the detent tongue past it. The detent tongue and recesses can be either directed into the slot, in which case the rod passes through the slot, or can be directed away from the slot, in which case the rod cooperates with the detent tongue and recesses between adjacent pins. A rod is provided for each decade in the pin carriage, and the rods may be connected to a common frame member of the pin carriage for easy installation and removal.

United States Patent Inventor Adoli Sehenlder Altoberndori, Germany Appl. No. 27,233 Filed Apr. 10, 1970 Patented June 8, 1971 Assignee Olympia Werke AG Wilhelmshaven, Germany Priority Apr. I5, 1969 Germany P19 18 932.3

SELF-ELASTIC SETTING PINS'FOR PIN CARRIAGES 0F CALCULATING MACHINES Primary Examiner-Stephen .l Tomsky Attorney-Spencer and Kaye ABSTRACT: Setting pins for pin carriages of calculating machines, each of which defines a completely enclosed slot and two resilient or springy, bar members arranged on opposite sides of the slot. A detent tongue is formed on each of the bar members to partially form two distinct recesses. A rod attached to the pin carriage is brought into a cooperative relationship with one of the recesses, and can be brought to the other of the recesses by pushing the detent tongue past it. The detent tongue and recesses can be either directed into the slot, in which case the rod passes through the slot, or can be directed away from the slot, in which case the rod cooperates with the detent tongue and recesses between-adjacent pins. A rod is provided for each decade in the pin carriage, and the rods may be connected to a common frame member of the pin carriage for easy installation and removal.

PATENTED JUN 8 Ian sum 1 (JP 2 Adolf Schneider IN VE N TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

SELF-ELASTIC SETTING PINS FOR PIN CARRIAGES OF CALCULATING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to resilient, elastic setting pins for pin carriages of calculating machines which pins are displaceable between a rest position and a set position and can be held in each of these positions.

Setting pins are known which are disposed in the bearing slots ofa pin carriage and are displaceable by actuating either the number keys or a reset device. To detain the setting pins either in their rest position or in their set position, it is known to use either individual detent springs disposed in the guide bearing slots parallel to the setting pins, or leaf spring combs which cooperate with the detent protrusions of the setting pins. These pin carriages permit proper sliding and guiding of the setting pins, and faultfree sliding and dependable operation of their detent springs, but their manufacture and, particularly, their assembly are both quite complicated.

Springy, or resilient, forked setting pins of a synthetic material have also been proposed. See, for example, German Patent application No. P I2 78 1496-53. These pins slide elastically and resiliently with the two arms forming the fork in their guide bearing slots, and produce friction when they are displaced. A detention of the setting pins in their rest or set positions is not provided, however. Moreover, the material of the forked setting pins becomes fatigued relatively quickly. This causes the spring action to decrease and the friction, and thus the key pressure, to be reduced, until, finally, faultfree operation becomes questionable.

Finally U-shaped setting pins fabricated from resilient wire are also known. See, for example, German Patent application No. P 14 49 495.2. One branch of the pin is provided with a cam which engages in a recess of a setting pin guide plate. These setting pins can not be manufactured of synthetic material, however, since it has been shown by experiments that synthetic material having this configuration of the setting pins is also subject to fatigue which decreases its spring action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is among the objects of the present invention to provide resilient, setting pins for pin carriages which avoid the drawbacks of the known types of setting pins, which are easily and simply manufactured and placed into the pin carriages and which, nevertheless, assure faultfree sliding and guiding of the setting pins and which, finally, exhibit unchanging spring characteristics even when the setting pins are made of a synthetic material.

This is accomplished according to the present invention in that each setting pin is provided with a completely enclosed slot, and with two resilient bars formed on both sides of the slot each bar being provided with a detent tongue which cooperates with a rod mounted in the pin carriage, and associated with the setting pins of a decade, to push the bars aside when the setting pin is displaced. The detent tongue at least partially defines recesses one of which abuts the rod associated with the setting pin being pressed into the set position and holds them there.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the elasticity of the setting pins has been substantially improved due to the number of resilient elastic detent tongues and recesses being doubled with respect to the known embodiments. Since the setting pins may be constructed to be entirely symmetrical with respect to both their longitudinal and transverse axes, a substantial simplification of installation when the setting pins are manually inserted into the pin carriage in an untensioned state is provided so that no remaining deformation occurs even when synthetic setting pins are used.

In order to arrange the setting pins in the pin carriage so that they will not become disengaged and lost, a further embodiment of the present invention provides that the detent tongues of each setting pin extend into the slot of this pin and that the rod is brought through the slots of the setting pins of one decade. The width of the slot at its widest point forms the widened portions of the detent tongue and can correspond to the diameter of the rod. The length of the slot can be so dimensioned that the displacement path of the setting pin is limited by the slot. The spring characteristics and the durability of the setting pins can be increased by extending the slot in both longitudinal directions with a reduced width.

In some cases, it is advisable to have the detent tongues of each setting pin directed outwardly and cooperating with the rods disposed on both sides of the setting pins of one decade. The rods of this embodiment simultaneously engage the setting pins of adjacent decade, ifany.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a cross-sectional top plan view of the setting pins of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the setting pins of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partly in cross section, ofa pin carriage using the setting pins of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, two setting pins 1 are shown, of which the left one is in its rest position, or reset position and the right one in its set position. The setting pins I are displaceably mounted in bearing slots 2 ofa front guide plate 3 and a rear guide plate 4.

The guide plates 3 and 4 for the setting pins 1 are the main components ofa pin carriage 10. The setting pins 1 are known to be arranged in columns and rows. Nine setting pins 1 are usually provided in each column and belong to one decade. These are designated the setting pins for the numbers 0" to "8." No setting pins are provided for the numbers 9, since the known value sensing members are limited by a common abutment in their movements corresponding to the number values 9." The setting pins I of the same number value are arranged in each row.

Each setting pin I in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is provided with an elongated slot 5, which is completely enclosed, so that resilient bars 6 are formed on each side of the slot 5. Each bar 6 is provided with a detent tongue 7 which extends into slot 5 and which defines distinct recesses 8 in slot 5. Recesses 8 are also the widest part of slot 5. A rod 9 passes through the slots 5 of the setting pins 1 ofa decade, and is mounted in the pin carriage 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4). After all setting pins 1 have been inserted into the bearing slots 2 of the front and rear guide plates 3 and 4, rods 9 are passed through slots 5 of the setting pins 1. Thus, the setting pins 1 are permanently mounted in the pin carriage l0. Rods 9 are provided in this embodiment in a number corresponding to the number of decades on the carriage.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the width of the wide portions of slot 5 corresponds to the diameter of rod 9, whereas the length of slot 5 limits the displacement path of setting pin 1 from its rest position to its set position or vice versa. To increase the resilient characteristics and the durability of setting pins 1, slot 5 is extended at both ends by further slots 50, which, however, are narrower than slot 5.

When a number key is actuated, the corresponding setting pin 1 ofa decade is pushed from its rest position to its set position in a known manner (not shown). The opposed widened portions 8 of bars 6 then slide along rod 9 so that the elastic bars 6 are pressed elastically outward until the detent tongues 7 are opposite rod 9. After passing over half of their displacement path, the resilient bars 6 urge the setting pin I into its set position by means of the other two opposed widened portions 8 in which position the setting pin is held. The arrangement of rods 6 with detent tongues 7 and widened portions 8 substantially increases the elastic and resilient characteristic of the setting pins 1 when compared to conventional setting pins, even when setting pins are used which are made of a synthetic material.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of setting pins according to the present invention in which each setting pin 11 is also provided with a slot 15 which is completely enclosed and resilient bars 16, which are formed one on each side of the slot 15. The detent tongues 17 of bars 16, however, are directed outwardly and cooperate with rods 19, which are disposed in a pin carriage on both sides of the setting pins of each decade. Rods 19 simultaneously engage the setting pins 11 of adjacent decades; the two outer rods 19 will, of course, only cooperate with one decade of setting pins 11. When a setting pin 11 is displaced into its set position by the appropriate number key, or returned to its rest position by a reset device, the bars 16 are pressed inwardly. In this configuration of the setting pins, each detent tongue 17 helps define recesses 18, one of which rests against rod 19 and urges the setting pin 11 into the position to be set and holds it in this position. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the widened portions 18 are so constructed that they limit the displacement path of the setting pins 11. After the rods 19 are inserted into the pin carriage, the setting pins 11 are also undetachably arranged. To increase the resilient characteristics in this embodiment, slots 15 can also be extended at both ends at a reduced width to form slots 15'. This embodiment requires n+1 rods 19 for n decades. With a nine-digit pin carriage 10, the embodiment of FIG. 1 provides nine individual rods 9, and the embodiment of FIG. 2 provides ten individual rods for setting pins 11.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of pin carriage 10 in which the front guide plate 3, the rear guide plate 4, a cover plate 20 and a bottom plate (not shown) of the pin carriage l consist of a one-piece frame element which is made entirely of synthetic material and forms a homogeneous body. Pin carriage is also provided with a bearing housing 21 and a slide opening 22 for for ajournal 23.

In the pin carriage 10' shown in FIG. 4, the front and rear guide plates 3 and 4 for guiding the setting pins 1, the two lateral walls 23 and 24 as well as a bottom plate 25 form a unitary, or one-piece, body, and rods 9 and the upper frame wall or cover plate 12 form a second unitary body. Rods 9' are fastened to plate 12 by suitable known means, such as by welding, and are pointed at their bottom ends to facilitate passage through slots 5 of setting pins 1. Holes 26 for holding and mounting the lower ends of rods 9 are provided in bottom plate 25. The lateral walls 23 and 24 are further provided with bearing housings 27 and 27', and slide openings 27" for upper and lower journals 28 and 28'. This upper frame wall is designed to serve as a cover plate 12, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, all of the rods 9' are inserted into the pins 1 at the same time, which means that the installation process is greatly simplified. The rods 9 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 may also be fastened to the upper frame wall (not shown) of the pin carriage and inserted in a like manner.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows, partly in cross section, the cover plate 12 held in place against abutments 30 and 30 in a simple manner after insertion, of the rod 9', by two detent tongues 29 and 29' attached to the front and rear guide plates 3 and 4 respectively.

The setting pins according to the present invention may be made of any suitable, known material, such as plastic material.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptions, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A setting pin for a pin carriage of a calculating machine displaceable between a rest position and a set position, which pin includes: two bar members constructed of a resilient elastic material and arranged on opposite sides of a closed slot so as to partially define t e slot; and a detent tongue on each of said bar members that partially defines two distinct recesses in each bar member, one of the recesses being for the rest position of said pin and one of the recesses being for the set position of the said pin, the detent tongue and recesses of each bar member being in cooperative engagement with a rod mounted in the carriage and common to all of the pins in a decade of the carriage.

2. A setting pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said detent tongue of each bar member extends into the slot defined by said pin and the rod passes through the slot of said pin.

3. A setting pin as defined in claim 2, wherein the width of the slot is substantially the same as the diameter of the rod, and the length of the slot determines the displacement of said pin to a desired displacement.

4. A setting pin as defined in claim 3, wherein the slot in said pin is an elongated slot and is extended in the direction of its elongation from each of the recesses, the extension of the slot having a width less than the width of the slot at the recesses.

5. A setting pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said detent tongues of each of said bar members are directed outwardly away from the slot, and said detent tongues and the recesses of the respective bar members cooperatively engage with a rod disposed at each side of said setting pin, so that the rod is simultaneously in engagement with setting pins of adjacent decades.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim I, wherein there are a plurality of said setting pins arranged in columns and rows, and further including a plurality of rods, each of which cooperatively engages with all of the pins in a column, and frame member of the pin carriage integral with all of the rods.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 I 583 I 528 Dated June 8th, 1971 Inventor-(s) AdOl f Schneider It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, line 1, change "Schenider" to -Schneider-.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of October 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents FORM FWD-1050 (10-69] USCOMMDC 60376-P69 U 5 GOVERNMENT PRINHNG OFFICE' Hi9 0-366-3ll 

1. A setting pin for a pin carriage of a calculating machine displaceable between a rest position and a set position, which pin includes: two bar members constructed of a resilient elastic material and arranged on opposite sides of a closed slot so as to partially define the slot; and a detent tongue on each of said bar members that partially defines two distinct recesses in each bar member, one of the recesses being for the rest position of said pin and one of the recesses being for the set position of the said pin, the detent tongue and recesses of each bar member being in cooperative engagement with a rod mounted in the carriage and common to all of the pins in a decade of the carriage.
 2. A setting pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said detent tongue of each bar member extends into the slot defined by said pin and the rod passes through the slot of said pin.
 3. A setting pin as defined in claim 2, wherein the width of the slot is substantially the same as the diameter of the rod, and the length of the slot determines the displacement of said pin to a desired displacement.
 4. A setting pin as defined in claim 3, wherein the slot in said pin is an elongated slot and is extended in the direction of its elongation from each of the recesses, the extension of the slot having a width less than the width of the slot at the recesses.
 5. A setting pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said detent tongues of each of said bar members are directed outwardly away from the slot, and said detent tongues and the recesses of the respective bar members cooperatively engage with a rod disposed at each side of said setting pin, so that the rod is simultaneously in engagement with setting pins of adjacent decades.
 6. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said setting pins arranged in columns and rows, and further including a plurality of rods, each of which cooperatively engages with all of the pins in a column, and frame member of the pin carriage integral with all of the rods. 